Links: Former President George W. Bush Now Paints Dogs

This is all the information we have: at a hospital fundraiser in Memphis Monday night, former President George W. Bush mentioned his new hobby, oil painting. He told the crowd he’s “kinda stuck” to painting dogs. Tragically, there are no pictures. [The Daily Beast]

Relatedly, we’ll totally pay you if you find pictures of George W. Bush’s dog paintings. [Me]

Ben Davis looks at the rhetoric of the LA MOCA situation in light of both the institution’s history and our recent economic past. His appraisal is one of the best things we’ve seen this week. [ArtINFO]

The Chinese government has arrested two senior art handlers in Beijing for allegedly undervaluing works at customs, and has not yet set a trial date. The Times has the story, and it’s good. [NY Times]

Souvenir shops across London are filling up with Olympics-related junk. [Gagosian]

The walls of the academy stand firm: Alec Soth got rejected from the Minnesota State Fair. [Tumblr]

I just saw Bush’s painting of his dog, Barney. It’s amazingly good. Not only is it a realistic portrait, the brush strokes were applied with a deftness and confidence that accomplished artists could envy. Who would have thought?